Anyone who has watched 'American Pickers' on the History channel knows that vintage advertising signs are popular with collectors and decorators. The two guys on the show light up like neon when they see an old gasoline sign or a iconic logo from earlier days. Part of the fun is learning about the history of an antique sign, which may also be beautiful in itself.
Advertising used to be restricted to hand-painted wooden signs hung outside pubs, brand names stenciled on packing crates, or billboard-size notices painted on the sides of barns. Cheap printing made it possible to reach more customers than in the old days, when custom depended on word of mouth or the faster patter of glib salesmen. Advertising came into its own - and became part of our culture. The tiger in the tank, shaving soap that was best described in (bad) rhyme, and shoes that made your feet fly faster ring bells in our collective memory.
Everyone probably can recite at least one jingle or recall one especially cherished image from advertisements. Other names or phrases are as familiar as family, whether or not the actual product was ever bought. A sign that evokes this sort of response is an antique that all of us appreciate. They make great decorative accents and conversation pieces.
History and memories are evoked by porcelain, metal, neon, or wooden signs. Even rust and dents are OK if the colors are still bright and the message still legible. Products that have not been available for years, once popular bars and restaurants that have gone out of business, portraits of beautiful girls promoting shampoo or soap, or ingredients for Mom's famous apple pie - all of these were depicted on signs that still can be found in shops, yard sales, and online.
Collectors want large outdoor gasoline signs to put on the side of a garage that maybe has an early gas pump set out in front. Oil company ads also make great garage accents. Remember when STP signs were all the rage for decorating everything from garage walls to school notebooks?
The present rage for 'man caves' - a glorification of the earlier den - means that signs have more relevance than ever. Any guy will love a motorcycle logo, a beer ad, or a commercial attention-grabber of his weapon of choice on his wall. This makes choosing the perfect gift easier than ever.
Restaurants, bars, automobile and furniture showrooms, and beauty parlors all involve some down time for the customer. It is fun and makes the time go by faster when the walls are covered with interesting and comment provoking artwork from the past. Customers appreciate the unique touch that such folk art brings to what could otherwise be a sterile environment.
Vintage advertising signs have a unique appeal that speaks to almost all of us. They evoke the past that formed the world we know today. Tangible history lessons, these works of art are truly Americana.
Advertising used to be restricted to hand-painted wooden signs hung outside pubs, brand names stenciled on packing crates, or billboard-size notices painted on the sides of barns. Cheap printing made it possible to reach more customers than in the old days, when custom depended on word of mouth or the faster patter of glib salesmen. Advertising came into its own - and became part of our culture. The tiger in the tank, shaving soap that was best described in (bad) rhyme, and shoes that made your feet fly faster ring bells in our collective memory.
Everyone probably can recite at least one jingle or recall one especially cherished image from advertisements. Other names or phrases are as familiar as family, whether or not the actual product was ever bought. A sign that evokes this sort of response is an antique that all of us appreciate. They make great decorative accents and conversation pieces.
History and memories are evoked by porcelain, metal, neon, or wooden signs. Even rust and dents are OK if the colors are still bright and the message still legible. Products that have not been available for years, once popular bars and restaurants that have gone out of business, portraits of beautiful girls promoting shampoo or soap, or ingredients for Mom's famous apple pie - all of these were depicted on signs that still can be found in shops, yard sales, and online.
Collectors want large outdoor gasoline signs to put on the side of a garage that maybe has an early gas pump set out in front. Oil company ads also make great garage accents. Remember when STP signs were all the rage for decorating everything from garage walls to school notebooks?
The present rage for 'man caves' - a glorification of the earlier den - means that signs have more relevance than ever. Any guy will love a motorcycle logo, a beer ad, or a commercial attention-grabber of his weapon of choice on his wall. This makes choosing the perfect gift easier than ever.
Restaurants, bars, automobile and furniture showrooms, and beauty parlors all involve some down time for the customer. It is fun and makes the time go by faster when the walls are covered with interesting and comment provoking artwork from the past. Customers appreciate the unique touch that such folk art brings to what could otherwise be a sterile environment.
Vintage advertising signs have a unique appeal that speaks to almost all of us. They evoke the past that formed the world we know today. Tangible history lessons, these works of art are truly Americana.
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